UK Wedding gift ideas, Groom and bridesmaid gifts, table favours and Wedding lists

Times are moving forward and traditions are changing. Civil Partnership Ceremonies are new yet many same sex couples would like a traditional 'wedding'. Heterosexual couples may prefer a different approach to their marriage service.
What does remain the same is the giving of gifts and gift etiquette should be observed. Let's assume you receive a wedding invitation but cannot attend. Always return the RSVP and at least a token gift, put a little thought into the wedding present because it shows that you acknowledge and respect heir special day.
Whether you are attending the wedding or not, it may be that you cannot afford a wedding gift as such. We've all heard of Gift Vouchers, but what about a 'labour voucher', it might entail a little decorating, garden landscaping or even a 'pot luck' barbecue where guests bring contributions of food & drink … you cook it! What a nice wedding party idea?

Don't be afraid to ask the couple if they have a wedding gift list at a certain store or shop, it is called a gift registry. You can see all the items, choose one, purchase it and it is removed from the registry ..thus saving the couple from receiving several toasters!

It is proper to send a gift to the Bride's home for the attention of her mother. Even more so if the ceremony is out of town or even on a beach in Paradise!

Don't be embarrassed in putting the receipt in an envelope marked 'receipt', this way they can access it if necessary.
Don't recycle gifts!, you might give them a gift that one of their friends bought you.

Wedding Table Gift Ideas - Favours

Wedding favours are token table gifts, something a little special for your guests to remember the occasion. Traditional favours are generally sugared almonds, (Confetti Almonds or Jordan Almonds), the quantity is important, the magic number is five to represent health, wealth, happiness and fertility.

Favours act as table decorations so if you have a colour theme then sugared almonds and the boxes or bags are an ideal way to co-ordinate your colour scheme.

You don't need go down the traditional route, what about visiting a quality chocolate shop and choose some decorated luxury Swiss chocolate or homemade handmade luxury chocolates.

Old-fashioned sweets are great fun too; those sherbet flying saucers because of their pastel colours and gourmet jellybeans for a fun way of assign bright colours.

Alcohol miniatures are an excellent personal gift because they can be suited to individuals. Small bottles of bubbles are fantastic icebreakers, you can almost bet who will be the first to start blowing bubbles at guests. Children will have fun with them too but kids like those little gifts they receive in diners and restaurants.

If you like the idea of icebreakers then think about favours that create interaction between wedding guests. These could be simple games of miniature battleships, noughts & crosses etc, but if you really want to warm up proceeding you could set each individual with a task or give them a question to ask a named individual … Dave asks Jill who her first kiss was with (knowing well that she is also a guest!)

So, all in all table gifts and wedding favors can be what you want them to be, but think seriously about presentation, colour co-ordination and personalisation. For example, use chiffon drawstring bags with labels that match your wedding stationery, and take the trouble to spell your guests names properly.

Imagine, giving each guest a lucky dip lottery ticket and it wins the jackpot !!